Science and Innovation

Regular exercise is good for a lot of things: strengthening muscles, decreasing body fat, even helping us sleep better. Now, new research shows it’s also good for the trillions of micro-organisms in our intestines, which have a profound effect on other systems in our bodies.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has lifted a statewide ban on recycling wastewater for drinking. Flagstaff city officials say the new rule opens up more options for the future. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports.

A sophisticated new lab on the campus of Northern Arizona University is helping researchers study the intricate mechanics of the human body. From increasing athletic performance to improving movement for people with conditions like cerebral palsy, the Human Performance Lab at the Center for Bioengineering Innovation is a hub for groundbreaking research. Anthony Hassel is a biologist at NAU.

Sixty elk from northern Arizona start a 2,000-mile journey this month to a wildlife reserve in West Virginia. Elk were eradicated by overhunting in the eastern United States more than a century ago and now West Virginias want to bring the animals back. Organizers of the relocation project say it’s about correcting past mistakes, and Arizona is in a unique position to help. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports.

We all react differently to seeing someone in distress. Some feel empathy. Some don’t. Some feel the pain so strongly they take it on as their own. Flagstaff social neuroscientist Chad Woodruff is trying to measure compassion and empathy by recording the activity of “mirror” or “social neurons” in the brain.